A paradoxical vestibular syndrome caused by a fibroblastic meningioma is described in a 20 month-old Holstein heifer. Clinical signs included head tilt, jerking movements of the head and neck, circling to ... [more ▼]

A paradoxical vestibular syndrome caused by a fibroblastic meningioma is described in a 20 month-old Holstein heifer. Clinical signs included head tilt, jerking movements of the head and neck, circling to the left, and also abducted and hypermetric right limbs. The animal was culled and the forebrain therefore was unavailable for histopathological study. The tumour was found on the right side, adherent to the dura mater at the level of the pontomedullary junction. The paradoxical vestibular signs were explained by the presence of the mass causing a loss of cerebellar inhibition over homolateral vestibular nuclei resulting in hyperactivity on the same side as the tumour and simulating a contralateral functional loss. The jerking head and neck movements might be caused by the same lesion although a concurrent forebrain lesion could not be excluded. [less ▲]

OBJECTIVE: To add objective measurements of the characteristics of evoked injury potentials (EIP) and their relations to clinical severity in dogs with thoracolumbar spinal cord damage. ANIMALS: 25 dogs with naturally acquired spinal cord compression attributable to disk extrusion or vertebral fracture at the level of the thoracolumbar junction and with various degrees of paresis/paralysis. PROCEDURE: Spinal cord potentials evoked by tibial nerve stimulation were recorded every 5 to 10 mm at the lamina level in the vicinity of the cord compression. This allowed an EIP to be recorded even in the least handicapped dogs. A computer model yielded information about the waveform changes of the EIP in the vicinity of conduction blocks. RESULTS: The EIP waveform changed from biphasic to monophasic a short distance caudad to the location of spinal cord compression. Location of a maximal conduction block was measured in relation to position of the electrodes recording this waveform change. The distance between the assumed conduction block and the actual spinal cord compression was larger in the most affected dogs. The amplitude of the EIP was not related to severity of the clinical picture; however, the proximity of the recording electrode to the spine influenced the amplitude and the waveform of the EIP. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Change in the EIP waveform from biphasic to monophasic makes it possible to estimate the conduction block location along the spinal cord. A large distance between the assumed conduction block and site of actual cord compression could be an objective argument to confirm severity of a lesion. [less ▲]

in Veterinary Record : Journal of the British Veterinary Association (1994), 135(4), 88-90

The acute polymyopathy in a seven-year-old German shepherd dog was attributed to the muscular hypertonia, tremors and seizures which developed during the acute phase of carbamate poisoning. After two days ... [more ▼]

The acute polymyopathy in a seven-year-old German shepherd dog was attributed to the muscular hypertonia, tremors and seizures which developed during the acute phase of carbamate poisoning. After two days of generalised muscular rigidity, the dog adopted a characteristic fetal position which could be explained by the imbalance between the injuries to the extensor and flexor muscles. The polymyopathy resolved gradually over the course of a week. [less ▲]

This paper describes the clinical, serologic, electrophysiologic and pathologic findings in three Bouvier des Flandres puppies exhibiting the swiming puppy syndrome. The puppies had no antibodies against ... [more ▼]

This paper describes the clinical, serologic, electrophysiologic and pathologic findings in three Bouvier des Flandres puppies exhibiting the swiming puppy syndrome. The puppies had no antibodies against distemper virus, T. gondii and N. caninum. A myopathy was suspected because spontaneous activities were disclosed in all muscle groups and muscles enzymes were elevated. However the pathologic findings were unable to confirm this hypothesis. [less ▲]

This paper describes a regional curare test performed in a dog suffering from myotonia and hyperadrenocorticism. The test prevented innervation to the pronator teres muscle of the left limb and allowed ... [more ▼]

This paper describes a regional curare test performed in a dog suffering from myotonia and hyperadrenocorticism. The test prevented innervation to the pronator teres muscle of the left limb and allowed electrical activity to be observed in the muscle without the need for a general neuromuscular blockade; various types of spontaneous activity other than myotonic discharges were also observed. Details of the method are given and its usefulness in the evaluation of myopathies is discussed. [less ▲]